‘We Dominated For 80 Minutes’ – Maresca Assesses Late Leeds Defeat
- Leicester City were beaten 3-1 by Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship
- The Foxes led until the 80th minute, when the hosts seized control of the contest
- Enzo Maresca reflected on a disappointing end to the game at Elland Road
- City are now six points ahead at the top of the table, with QPR up next
The Foxes took an early lead when Wout Faes headed in from a corner, but the hosts hit back at Elland Road late on, with goals from Connor Roberts, Archie Gray and Patrick Bamford – all in the final 10 minutes, securing three points for the Yorkshire side on Friday night.
It was a case of ruing missed opportunities for City, unable to convert several chances either side of a second goal from Patson Daka being ruled out for offside. Replays appeared to show that it should have stood.
As a result, Leicester’s lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship has been cut to six points, following back-to-back defeats.
“I think, for me, we dominated the game,” Maresca assessed. “In the first half and most of the second half, we controlled the game, for 80 minutes until we conceded the goal. We created many, many big chances but football is a matter of taking your chances and we missed them.
“We had many more chances (after the disallowed goal). We were very good. We played the way we want to play until what happened in the last few minutes. To come here and dominate the game for 80 minutes is an important message for everyone – for the Club, for the fans, for us.
“I know that it has been a shame because we want to win and we came here to win, but the way we dropped points has been a shame because we deserved to win the game. For the players, for everyone, it has been so clear tonight that there was one team that completely dominated the game.”
There’s little time to dwell with AFC Bournemouth up next on Tuesday in the Emirates FA Cup and Queens Park Rangers due at King Power Stadium back in the league next weekend.
The Italian added: “I think we have to analyse the game first and the game was very good. Unfortunately, it is a shame for the last 10 minutes, but it is what it is.”